Cable fairleads question

[JJohnston]

Are the fairleads closed circles, or is there a way to take the cable out through the side? Looking at pictures, it seems as though once you put on the thimble and Nicopress sleeve, it's too big to fit back through the fairlead, so you can't remove it without destroying it. That seems like it can't be right.

[BTAZ]

The fairleads are two pieces. They go through the small piece of tubing(which has a large enough ID to pass through the cable eye) that holds the two pieces together and are retained with a small circlip that comes with them.

I replaced the circlip on mine with appropriately sized snap rings to make them easier to R&R using snap ring pliers.

[Bdflies]

Man, that's a great idea! Those clips are a bear...

Bill

[Bcone1381]

Snap rings!! No more circle clips for me from now on.

[interstate al]

Great idea BATZ, thanks! I actually think I used safety wire on one of the harder to get at fairleads!

[JJohnston]

Ah, thanks.

[Chris]

These, purchased from Zoro, fit the fairlead grooves really well.

[Untainted123]

I had to safety wire the ones at the wing root. I used the larger diameter safety wire, which almost matches the rings you would use normally.

[Pbruce]

In answer to the original question, the fair leads are split, but since they fit inside steel rings welded to the structure, I don’t think a loop of cable with a thimble and nicopress sleeve will fit through. (Maybe the little elevator trim cable would-I’m not sure). You finish one end, ready for attachment to a control horn or whatever, and then lead the unfinished end through all your fair leads, then finish it to the correct length. Leave or it slack or route it out of your way with tape or something until you are ready for control rigging.